So this is my first full season snowboarding and I am trying to get my turns smoother and actually carve. This video is short, but I want to get better. I'm still not comfortable enough ollie'ing and playing around with ground tricks while moving....

This video is of me at Killington this past weekend trying to improve turning, I really want to improve, what can I work on?

There could probably be more flexion and extension of the knees to make your carving better. Right now it seems like you are keeping the knees bent but they are a bit too stiff. I think you could also consider creating higher angles between your board and snow by really flexing those knees and ankles. I may be wrong but I also think that it would be even easier to carve if you used your hips to initiate the turns, there is something bugging me about your back hand which seems to be always hanging at the right side of your body.

There could probably be more flexion and extension of the knees to make your carving better. Right now it seems like you are keeping the knees bent but they are a bit too stiff. I think you could also consider creating higher angles between your board and snow by really flexing those knees and ankles. I may be wrong but I also think that it would be even easier to carve if you used your hips to initiate the turns, there is something bugging me about your back hand which seems to be always hanging at the right side of your body.

In any case the carve still looked really good.

Totally, I have a really hard time on heel side carves. I suppose on the toe side, it feels like i'm flexing more, but as evidenced by the video, I am only barely flexed...

When you were close to the camera, you weren't carving. Looked like you dug in and got a nice toe side carve after you passed the cam. Work on angulation. Hump and Dump. Really bend those knees and thrust your pelvis forward on toe side. Toward the end of the toe side carve start to load the tail and then quickly pull your legs up and get into dump position (like you're dropping one). Try not to lean your torso forward toward your toes while on the heelside carve. It won't matter so much on the terrain you were riding but on steeper stuff you'll get chatter and you're edge will break free. You want your spine stacked opposing the G-Force. As far the loading the tail part. Image the board is a dollar bill and you're feeding it into a machine. You start our the carve with your weight forward and slowly feed the board forward till your weight is back, then quickly move it forward again while changing edges and repeat. You want to get your edge as high possible as quickly as possible. Both feet at the same time. (Often with a forward stance you'll actually be initiating from the rear foot. I ride +30 +15).

When you were close to the camera, you weren't carving. Looked like you dug in and got a nice toe side carve after you passed the cam. Work on angulation. Hump and Dump. Really bend those knees and thrust your pelvis forward on toe side. Toward the end of the toe side carve start to load the tail and then quickly pull your legs up and get into dump position (like you're dropping one). Try not to lean your torso forward toward your toes while on the heelside carve. It won't matter so much on the terrain you were riding but on steeper stuff you'll get chatter and you're edge will break free. You want your spine stacked opposing the G-Force. As far the loading the tail part. Image the board is a dollar bill and you're feeding it into a machine. You start our the carve with your weight forward and slowly feed the board forward till your weight is back, then quickly move it forward again while changing edges and repeat. You want to get your edge as high possible as quickly as possible. Both feet at the same time. (Often with a forward stance you'll actually be initiating from the rear foot. I ride +30 +15).

Was that Jay Peak?

Thanks for the feedback...I really have a hard time placing my weight on the heelside and never really carve there. When feed the weight forward and making the board go flat for a split second, it feels grabby on the groomers...is this normal?

Thanks for the feedback...I really have a hard time placing my weight on the heelside and never really carve there. When feed the weight forward and making the board go flat for a split second, it feels grabby on the groomers...is this normal?

It is absolutely normal for beginning. If you want to avoid this, slightly 'jump' with your weighted rear leg when you change edges and then feed your weight forward. Properly weighted tail of a board gives you an additional push.